Aquatic merry-go-round.



H. E. RIEHL. AQUATIC MIEBRY-G/O--ROUNDI ArrLroA'rIoN FILED 110.513,1907.

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` APPLIUATION FILED AUG. 2B, 190 'v Patented NOV. 3

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HENRY ELMER RIEHL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

AQUATIC MERRY-GO-ROUND.

Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 3, 1908.

Application tiled August 28, 1907. Serial No. 390,487.

To all whom it may cof/boem:

Be it known that I, HENRY ELMER RIEHL, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, Ooney Island, borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York,have invented anew and Improved Aquatic Merry-Go-Round, of which the following is a full, clear, and eX- act description.

The invention relates to amusement apparatus, such as are used in parks, exhibition grounds, pleasure resorts and the like.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved aquatic merry goround, arranged to provide an exceedingly novel and highly interesting ride.

-The invention consists of novel features and parts and combinations of the same, which Will be more fully described hereinafter and then pointed out in the claims.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improvement; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same, the roof being omitted and parts being broken out; Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional side elevation of the improvement; Fig. 1l is an enlarged sectional side elevation of the improvement showing the sinuous track and a car shaft; Fig. 5 1s a side elevation of the driving mechanism for the revoluble platform, and Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional side elevation of the Water distribution for producing an annular falling sheet of Water.

The platform A of a merry-go-round has its hub A mounted on a suitable post B erected on a foundation C, as plainly indicated in Fig. 3. The under side of the platform A is provided with a grooved pulley D around which passes an endless cable or rope E Winding on a drum F driven vby a suitable gearing F from the shaft G of a motor G of any approved construction.K A guide pulley E guides the cable or rope E to a drum F, so as to insure proper Winding up and unwinding of the cable or rope B on the drum F. NOW when the motor G is in operation and the drum F is driven then a traveling motion is given to the cable or rope E, and as the latter engages the pulley D it is evident that a rotary motion is given to the platform A.

The platform A is provided with one, two or more sets of bearings A2, each set being arranged in a circle and the several sets beino' concentric one to the other, as plainly indicated in the drawings. Each of the bearings A2 is mounted to tui'n and to slide up and down a shaft H supporting a car H above the platform A, each car H being preferably circular and capable of seating a number of persons grouped around the centrally arranged shaft H. Each shaft H is also mounted to turn and to slide in an overhead bearing A3 carried. on an overhead frame A4 attached to the upper end of the hub A', extended for this purpose above the platform, as indicated in Fig. The top of each shaft H is preferably provided with a suitable arm H2, preferably in the forni of a cluster of electric lights, as indicated in Fig. 3. Each of the shafts H below the platform A is pivotally connected by a swivel H3 with a Wheeled support I having its wheels traveling on an undulatory track l erected on a suitable framework C surrounding thc foundation C. Now by the arrangement described the Wheeled supports I in following the correspondingl track I travel up and down and conse uently impart an up and down sliding motion to the shafts H', so as to move the cars Il correspondingly up and down during the time the platform A is turning around.

Each of the shafts H is provided below the platform A with a pinion J adapted to mesh alternately at the opposite sides with segmental gears J Vand J2 attached to the framework C, as plainly indicated in Figs. 2 and 3. Now when the platform A is revolving and the shafts H are carried along with tlie platform, then the pinions J move alternately in mesh with the segment-al gears J and J2, so that the shafts H and with them the cars H are first turned in one direction, and then turned in an opposite direction While bodily moving with the platform A and at the time the cars H are ris ingand falling. From the foregoing it will be seen that the passengcrsv in a car ll nndergo several movements, that is, are carried bodily around with the platform A, are moved up and down and turn alternately with the car around in opposite directions.

Outside of the platform A and preferably extending below the same is 'arranged an annular Water-way K for containing water on which are adapted to travel boats' L, protil) vided at their front and rear ends with pins li eugagei'l by the lslotted ends of fork arms liI attached to the platform A, as plainly indicated in Figs. and 3, so that when the platform A is rotated, as above described, then the arms LE in moving with the platform carry the boats L along; thus the boats li float on the water in the water-way K and more in unison with the platform A.

(`oncent ric with the water-way K and outside of the same is arranged another waterway or water receiver N, connected by one or more ports N with the water-way K, so that waterpassing into the receiver N can float into the water-way K, to maintain the water at a uniform level therein. Into the water receiver N drops an annular sheet of falling water O, which forms a Wall or inclosure for the merry-go-round above described, so that the occupants of the cars H and boats L are practically inclosed within the said sheet of falling water, that is, are practically screened from the outside public by the water, which may be illuminated by the rays of the sun to produce highly colored effects. In order to produce this an nular sheet of falling water O, a perforated annular pipe P is arranged a distance above the merry-go-round and at the top of a rim Q, forming part of a fixed roof R of the amusement apparatus, and which roof R is supported by the upper end of the post B. The rim Q is preferably built up of askeleton framework covered with glass or a similar transparent or translucent material, preferably of varyin colors, soV as to heighten the ornamental e ect. The rim Q is curved downwardly and outwardly, so that water discharged onto the upper end of the rim Q floats downwardly over the outside of the rim, to finally drop off the same in the form of a continuous annular sheet, as plainly indicated in Fig. 3.

later is supplied to the perforated pipe l by the discharge pipe S of a pump S of any approved construction and which has its suction pipe S2 connected with the Waterway K, so that the water in the latter and the water receiver N is continually kept in circulation, that is, the water is used over and over again. The pump S is driven by a suitable motor T, as indicated in Fig. 3. At the end of a ride in the merry-go-round the motor T is stopped, so as to stop the flow of the water to the pipe P with a View to discontinue the sheet of falling Water during the time passengers embark or disembark in the cars H and boats L.

Now in order to reach the platform A from the outside one or more bridges U are employed., adapted to be thrown across the Water receiver N and the Water-Way K, to establish communication between the platform A and the entering platform V, arranged outside of the water receiver N.

After the passengers are seated in the cars H and boats L the bridges U are withdrawn, and then the motors G and l are started, so as to cause thc )'ilatform A to re volve and to produce the sheet of' falling water O, as previously explained.

then the platform A revolves the cars ll and boats L are carried along and in addiY tion an up and down turning movement is given to the cars lil, to render the ride exceedingly interesting to the occupants of the Llll'S.

lflaving thus described my invention, l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. An amusement appa atus with means for inclosing the same in an annular screen composed of falling water, and movable means for internally illuminating the screen.

2. An amusement apparatus having a roof provided with a translucent annular side portion, and water distributing means for discharging water onto the said side portion, for the water to drop off the side portion in the form of an annular sheet of water.

3. An amusement apparatus having a roof provided with a translucent annular side portion, water distributing' means for discharging water onto the said side portion for the water to drop off the side portion in the form of an annular sheet of water, and means for utilizing the water in the waterway to form the said sheet of water.

et. An amusement apparatus having a roof provided with an annular glass rim, and a water distributing pipe around the upper outside portion of the said rim for discharging water onto the said rim, the water flowing down the rim and dropping oft the lower edge thereof in the form of an annular screen.

5. An amusement apparatus having a roof provided with an annular translucent rim, a` water distributing pipe around the upper outside portion of the said rim for discharging water onto the rim, the water flowing down the rim and dropping off the lower edge thereof in the form of an annular screen, means Within the screen for illuminating; said screen and the rim, and means for revolvingV said illuminating means and for imparting vertical movement to the same.

6. lAn amusement apparatus having a roof provided with a translucent rim portion having different portions thereof differently colored, means for producing a film of Water on the outer surface of the rim, and means for internally illuminating said rim..

7. An amusement apparatus having a roof provided with a translucent rim ortion having different portions thereof di erently colored, means for producing a film` of Water provided l on the outer surface of the rim, means for internally illuminating said rim, and means for revolvinij said illuminating means in a horizontal plane.

8. An amusement apparatus having a roof provided with a translucent rim portion having different portions thereof differently colored, means for producing a film of Water on the outer surface of the rim, means for internallyT illuminating said rim, means for revolving said illun'iinating means in a horizontal plane, and means for imparting' vertical movement to the illuminating means during the horizontal movement.

9. An amusement apparatus comprisingr a central mast, means for rotating the mast, a` plurality of shafts mounted for vertical sliding movement, an undulatory Circular track, rolls on the ends of the shafts running on the track, illuminating means supported by the shafts; means for rotating the shafts in alternate directions, a roof for the apparatus having a translucent rim portion, and means for forming a sheet of Water over the translucent portion of the roof and around the apparatus.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing' Witnesses.

HENRY ELMER RIEHL.

lVitnesses THno. G. HosTER, JOHN P. DAVIS. 

